By this time, Mattie had determined that Jesse’s wound was only superficial. She didn’t even think he needed to see a doctor. The bullet had grazed a path along the top of his shoulder, taking the skin with it. While he would be sore for a few days, Alex felt certain that his cock was still in good working order. And they both couldn’t wait to get home and let their wife know how they felt about her leaving.
It was dark when they all piled into the wagon Edward had brought the judge in. This time, the body of Edward was in the back. Frank’s feet and wrists were tied and a handkerchief was shoved in his mouth.
Mattie turned and glanced at her home one last time as they pulled out of the yard.
“Don’t worry, lass, we’ll come back.”
“I know, it’s just I have so many good and bad memories here.”
Thirty minutes later, they reached the sheriff’s office. The judge explained what he’d seen and how Edward and Frank planned to force him to marry Mattie and Frank. Edward’s body was taken to the pauper’s cemetery and Frank took up residence in jail.
Alex had never been so glad when they were finally able to make the long trip home.
15
JESSE
* * *
Exhausted, they arrived home after midnight. While Alex unhitched the wagon and put the horses in the barn, Jesse and Mattie went into the house.
He sank down onto a chair at the kitchen table and gingerly removed his shirt.
“Let me clean that wound. I still think we should have had the doctor look at it.”
There was no way that Jesse was going to waste more time at the doctor’s office. It was superficial and he would live. He’d survived worse bullet holes than this one.
“Come here, lass,” he said. He pulled her onto his lap and gazed into her sapphire eyes.
“Why did you disobey us? Didn’t we tell you to stay here?”
“Yes, but the note said it was from Alex. That you were waiting on me and I thought you wanted me to come to you.”
While he understood she had been misled, she should have known better. It showed they had not instilled in her that she was to obey them at all times. If someone could fool her so easily, she was in danger.
“You’re under our protection. We would never have you ride with a stranger, even to Butte. We will always come and get you.”
When he’d learned that she left, he’d been so angry, but he could understand her reasoning. But that didn’t mean she would not be punished.
“You’ll be spanked and this time, it will be a little harder than the ones you enjoy. So think on that while we wait for Alex to return.”
She bit her bottom lip. “But I thought I was doing what you wanted.”
A well-deserved spanking would help her remember their word was law.
“Always remember, we would never entrust you to a stranger, a kid. Either Alex or I will accompany you wherever you go. You’re in our protection.”
With a sigh, she stood and went to the sink where she gathered her supplies. When she returned, she took the washcloth and gently bathed his wound, cleaning it. “You were so lucky.”
He reached his hand under her skirt and let his fingers run over the inside of her thigh. “You’re my good luck charm.”
“Tell me what you meant when we were back in the house. What did you mean when you said you knew how Alex felt?”
Maybe it was time, she knew how he’d let down his friend. It ate at him and yet he didn’t know how to repair the damage. If there was any way he could fix the horrible misjustice done to his friend, he would. All because of his temper.
Running his hand over her naked skin, he sighed.
“You know I have a terrible temper and that I protect those I care about. The reason I had to leave Scotland was because I injured someone. A laird’s son, who could do no wrong. I witnessed him abusing a man and I had to stop him. After that fight, I had to leave my family behind.”